Garment hanger



Dec. 1 1925.4 I

W. REID GARMENT HANGER Filed Dot.' 24. 1924v Ci 1I! INVENTOR- J/I/iZZmuReid, 8K5? /a/a@ TOR NE YS.

datentecl Dec. l, i925.

UfNiTED stares WILLIAM REID, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GARMENT HANGER.

Application led October 24, 1924. Serial No. 745,585.

T all whom vit may concern:

Be it known that I, IILLIAM REID, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county` of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful `Improvements inGarment I-Iangers, of which the following'is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to garment hangers, more particularly to a typecapable of conversion to use `either for double point suspension inwardrobe trunks, or for single point suspension in closets. A hanger ofthis type is shown and described in a copending application SerialNumber 698,395, filedby me on March ll, 1924, wherein a pivoted flexiblebail serves as the means to enable conversion, said bail being foldablelagainst the hanger when not in use.

One object of the present invention is to provide in connection with aconvertible hanger' such as referred to, means tending to yieldinglyhold the bail in either the folded or unfolded position, yet capable ofautomatically inducing lexure of the bail. so that the hold thereon isreleased as it is turned from one position to the other.

My .invention is further directed toward safe-'guarding against thepossibility of dislodginent of the bail trunnions from their bearings asthe bail responds to flexure 1n being released as` above explained.

`Other objects `and attendant advantages will become obvious from thedetailed description"` that follows of several typical formsin whiclrmyinvention may be conveniently embodied.

With referenceto the drawings, Fig. I is a side view of my improvedgarment hanger with the converting bail folded down out of the way.

Fig. II is an illustration similar to the preceding but with the bailturned up into active positionin readiness for supporting the hanger insuspension from a wall peg or closet hook.

FigxIII is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the improveddevicewhich `I employ in attaching the bail to the hanger.

Fig. IV shows a modified type oit' attach ing device; and,

Fig. V an alternative form of the attac ing device illustrated in Fig.IV.

Inthe hanger herein depicted, the usual coat-supporting arch portion lis topped by Aeach end of said bail.

a trouser or skirt-supporting cross. bar 2 which is notched at oppositeends as at 3-3 for registery with` the parallel mounting bars or rods ofan ordinary wardrobe trunk. lith the hanger is associated a pivotedyokeor bail 4 that is, in practice, made from, y

stout spring wire, its opposite extremities being turned perpendicularlyas at 5 5, and` the terminals ofsaid extremities inwardly and into axialalignment to provide .pivot trunnions 6-6. In the. form of my inven-Ation shown in Figs. I to III,the ends ofthe trunnions 6-6 are bentlaterallyfas at`7f-7 for a purpose which will presently be explained.

As a means cross bar 2 of the hanger, I employa novel form of attachingdevice comprehensively indicated atS, one such being provided for In thesimplest embodiment illustrated in FigS..I to:III, this attaching device8 is in the form of a plate which mayr be constructed from a l singlepiece of metal either as a casting,or a stamping from sheet material, asfound most convenient or economical to manufacture. Along itsvhorizontal medial, the nplate `8 is ridged as at 9 to take the trunnion6 of the bail 4, and pierced at opposite sides ofsaid ridge `for passageof screws 10,10, whereby it is secured to the hanger cross bar 2. Themargin along one sideV ofV the plate 8 1s joggled or offset as at 11 toprovide a recess for engaging the perpendicularly turned extremity 5v ofthe bail 4, and thereby to hold the latter in either the folded positionshown forsecuring the bail 4 tothe in Fig. I, or the extended positionof Fig.

II. The edge `of the plate 8 along the joggled portion 11 is given theangular configuration shown characterized by convergent slopes 12-12that are symmetric with regard to the trunnion axis 6 and, respectively,slantingly overlie the extremity 5 of the bail 4 when the latter is inthe positions of Figs. I and II. By this construction 1t will be seenthat as the bail 4 is turned fro-m one position to the other, theleading cam slope 12will function in cooperation with the correspondingend 5, to automatically spread or flex said bail so that the end 5 willbie withdrawn from the holding recess; and, j after the high point ofthe cam is passed, the end 5 will automatically seek the holding notchto theoppositey side ofthe trunnion axis by virtue `ofthe contractivepower of the bail 4 in inducing cooperation with the otherv offsaidslopesflZ.` The trunnion 6 is in each instance safeguarded againstdislodgment from the bearing 9 during flexure of the bailybyiengagemento-fits laterally bent end 7 With the contiguous end of said bearing.

The modified form of attachment device illustrated in F ig. IV "diders'fronr the first described in `that the holding recess is formed byai'flap '13 punchedlout'of the body of'the plate 8, thefedge'ofsaid flapbeing straignt and'notformed'tocam configuration as before. The'plate8',- furthermore, is extended lfeyondiftlie" recess' and bentperpendicularly to :provide a projecting guard' flangevr 14?' whichlies'crfoss'w'isefofV the bearing ridge 9 jt-hus @prevents the" trunnion6iy from riding out ofthe bearing 9 1n' respo'ndmgtor .Hexurefofls'aidbail,-in this instance effected by forced spreading during turnlng' thetrunnion G'b'eing'lier'e devoidfof' the upturned ends of the precedingtype. The guard flange 14 has a centraly clearance notch 15`v inlinevvitlithe' trunnion axis, which,

- When the bail 4" is lswung t`o the intermediate or centrali position,will permit the trunnion 6y to bewithdlrawn: from the bearing ridge 9and said bail-'removed fro1ntlie hanger.

This' modified construction, it" Will' be particularlynoted,rendersassembllngvery'easy and convenient', since theattaclrn'ientdevices Smlay be first-secured' in place' adjacent the'ends'A ofthe cross bar 2 of the hanger,l and the bailftliereaftersprungintoipla'ce.

In inerenti-native 'form of Fig; mythe l gua'rdflange 'ist afforded by aseparate plate 16 v'vhiclr is inserted beneath the plate 8, andprovidedy with' apertures' capable of registry \vith"tlio`se of thelatter y plate so that thesame screws 10`may be employed in securing theassen'iblage tothe hanger. Functi`onaljly',`-this alternative form of myl inventionjisidenticaf vvith the mlodiiedtype of Fi'gVf y l H j j thusdescribed my invention, I

`1'. The combination in" a convertible garment hanger, of'a pivoted"suspension bail capable ofbeing folded against the hanger ivhenV not inuse, means' to. hold they bail in either the folded or exter'idedyposition, and meanstoautomatically disengage the bail -jfrom theholding' means as' itis turned from one position to the other.y t

2. yThe combination in a convertible garment hanger, of a pivotedflexible suspension bail capable of vbeing folded against the hangerwhen not in use, means to hold the bail in either the -folded orextendedposivtion; and means for automatically flexing bail to disengage thesame'from the holding means as it is turned from one position lto 'theother.V

3. The combination in a convertible garment hanger, of a pivotedllexiblesuspension bail capable of being folded against the hanger whennotinuse-7 recessed means for engaging the bail to hold it in either thefolded or extended position, and associated means for automaticallyflexing the bail to lWith'drr-.W' the'same' from the recess of theholding means as it is turned from one position to the other.

4i The-combination in a convertible-garment hanger,.of a pivoted'flexible suspension' bail capable 'of being vfolded:against'the hanger'when not vin use,.recessed'means for engaging'the bailA to hold'it ineither the f'oldedor' extended position, and associated cam 'mea-ns forautomatically flexing tlierbail` to Withdraw the samefrom-the-recessofthe;

holding meanslas itis turned from" oneipositlontov 'another'. j

5. The comblnation 1n a convertiblelgarment hangenlof a pivotedflexiblesuspensionv bail capable of being folded: against the hanger' Whenv notin use, attaching plates eaclrformed with ar centralbearing to4 make atrunnion ofthe bail, and perpendicularfto tlie bearing'with a recess forengaging-an adjacent portion of the baill to hold the ,latter in eitherthe lfolded or extended position, the edgel ofV the recess` providingcam slopes diverging symmetrically with respect to the'trunnion axes'toautomatically effect disengagement fromthe recess aforesaid as susr thebailI is' turned from one position tothe 1 other.

6'.- rlihecombination. in. a convertible garment hanger, of a pivotedflexible suspension bail capable ofbein'g folded against' the hangerwhen not in use,n and attaching-plates constructed from sheet metaleaclr with; a central rounded bearing' ridge to make; a trunnion of thebail?, and at a perpendicular toY the bearing Withv an offset portionprovida recess for engaging an adjacent part of the bail to2 hold thelatter in eitherthe folded or extended position, said side affording acam edge with Islopes-v diverging symmetrically with respect to. thetrunnion axes to automatically effect disengagement from the recess asthe bai-l is turned from one yposition to the other.

hanger when not in use, said bail ends forming trunnions, attachingdevices affording hearings for the trunnions of the bail, means to holdthe bail in either folded or expanded position, means to automatically`flex the hail longitudinally for disengagement from the holding meansas itis turned from one position to the other, and retaining means toprevent complete Withdrawal of the trunnion from the hearing inaccommodating itself positionally to the fleXure of the bail in turning.

9. As a new article of manufacture an attaching device for suspensionhails consisting of a plate affording a trunnion bearing therefor withan associated offset functional as the bail retainer7 the edge of saidoffset embodying cam means eiective to flex the hail during' movementfrom the in-use to the out-of-use position, and vice versa.

10. As a new article of manufacture an attaching device for the bail ofa convertible garment hanger consisting of a unitary plate affordingtrunnion bearing therefor With an associated offset functional as thehail retainer, the edge of said offset embodying convergent camseffective to flex the hail during the movement from the in-use to theout-of-use position, and vice versa.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this 21st day of October, 1924.

VILLIAM REID.

